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5 questions: D.C. or bust

By Staff | Feb 11, 2009

Shawn Linenberger

Councilmember Tom Putthoff and a group of representatives from the cities of Tonganoxie, Lansing and Leavenworth, along with representatives from the Leavenworth County Development Corporation, will lobby for money on improvements along U.S. Highway 24-40 and other county projects.

Councilmember Tom Putthoff leaves this morning, along with Mike Yanez, city administrator, and a group of representatives from the?Leavenworth County Development Corporation, Lansing and?Leavenworth, will be visiting our nation’s capital to meet with state senators and representatives.

Q. Is this your first time going to Washington D.C.?
A. Yes. I am looking forward to it.

Q. Who will you be talking to?
A. Supposedly we have face-to-face meetings scheduled with senators?(Pat)?Roberts and (Sam)?Brownback, congresswoman (Lynn)?Jenkins and congressman?(Dennis)?Moore.

Q. What do you plan on discussing at the meeting?
A. On?Tonganoxie’s part, we are interested in 14th Street.

Q. What do you hope this will accomplish?
A. We hope to get funding to help get this project going.

Q. With the current economic climate do you think funding will be available for this project?
A. I still think we have a chance to get help from our federal government for this because it has been approved by KDOT (Kansas?Department of Transportation) and MARC (Mid-America?Regional Council). They have supported this project since it is a part of the 24-40 corridor study.

The need for improvements along 14th?Street come from suggestions from the U.S. 24-40 Corridor Management Study that was sponsored by KDOT, MARC, Tonganoxie, Basehor and Leavenworth County.?The $3 million dollar project would would add turn, passing and deceleration lanes at the intersection.